Apple CarPlay will have MiniPlayer and new audio features with iOS 27

Apple is preparing an important update in terms of safety in the Apple CarPlay audio experience with the arrival of iOS 27. According to information revealed by the specialized portal 9to5Mac, the automotive system will receive features such as MiniPlayer and Audio Scrolling, tools developed to optimize media control and significantly reduce driver distractions behind the wheel.

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Simplified audio control with the new MiniPlayer

Currently, when playing media on Apple Music, Spotify or other audio applications on the multimedia center panel, the driver sees a sound wave icon in the upper right corner of the display. By tapping on this icon, the system redirects the screen to the “Now Playing” interface. This process is common when you want to pause, rewind, or play a song or podcast, for example, and requires additional navigation steps, increasing the inattention of those who are driving.

With the debut of Apple CarPlay’s MiniPlayer, the user will be able to manage audio playback directly within the currently running application, such as Google Maps or Waze.

The new floating UI displays:

• Album or podcast cover art;
• Track and artist/album name;
• Essential command buttons: play, pause, forward and rewind.

With this change, it is no longer necessary to switch screens, keeping the driver’s focus on the map and traffic.

Audio scrolling and quick snippet search

Another relevant addition is Audio Scrubbing, a feature already popular on the iPhone, but which until then was incompatible with the car system.

With the feature, the driver or passenger can navigate through any point on the lane by pressing and dragging the progress bar. The update also brings an expanded playback indicator, making it easier to quickly search for specific snippets in songs, radio shows, podcasts or audiobooks.

iOS 27 Availability and Release

The audio features will be introduced first in Apple’s native system applications and then made available to third-party software as developers update their applications.

The official release of iOS 27 is scheduled for mid-September, taking place simultaneously with the announcement of the iPhone 18 line. Presented in June during the annual conference for developers, the new version of the operating system will also bring an improved Siri assistant with Artificial Intelligence.